CARES Act Funding for Students 2019-2020

Through the federal CARES Act, Genesee Valley BOCES is able to offer financial assistance to help cover current and future expenses related to the disruption of studies due to the COVID-19 outbreak.  Expenses include food, housing, course material, technology, health care, childcare, moving, loss of employment, or other unanticipated related expenses incurred during their enrollment.

The CARES Act Funds is federal grant assistance that does not need to be repaid.

• No Application is required.
•  Award amounts will be distributed to all eligible students with the highest need based on their 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The maximum amount a student can receive for Spring 2020 is $2,160.  
• Once awards are calculated, eligible students will be notified via a message to their Genesee Valley BOCES email account of the grant amount.
• Arrangements will be made for students to pick up their awards at the Genesee Valley BOCES Batavia campus.
  
  

1.     An acknowledgment that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

• CARES #1 Certification and Agreement signed on 4/16/2020 was submitted via grants.gov on 5/14/2020.

2.     The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

• CARES ACT #1 was submitted to grants.gov for Genesee Valley BOCES Practical Nursing Program to receive $131,067.
• CARES ACT #1 was received in Genesee Valley BOCES Practical Nursing Program’s G5 account on 5/20/2020 (P425E204489). 

3.     The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).

• CARES ACT#1 was disbursed in full to students on 6/11/2020.
• All the CARES ACT #1 funds, $131,067 were disbursed.

4.     The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

• 74 eligible students.

5.     The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

• 74 students received the grant.

6.     The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

Students are eligible to receive funds if they meet the following requirements:

• Have a completed FAFSA for 2019-2020
• Be enrolled in good standing on or after March 13th, when the national emergengy was declared.
• Be a citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Not in default on a Federal Student Loan, nor owe a refund on any previous Federal Grants.

Awards ranged from $723 - $2,160 based on a predetermined formula using the student’s 2019-2000 FAFSA Estimated Family Contribution (EFC).

7.     Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

• See the introduction above.

Emergency funding to help educational institutions address their pressing financial needs due to the move to on-lone instruction caused by the disruption of campus operations from Coronavirus/COVID-19.